Performing the Music of Henry Purcell

Edited by Michael Burden

Performing the Music of Henry Purcell

Edited by Michael Burden

Description

This book, published to coincide with the tercentenary of Purcell's death, is the first to be devoted to the performance of his music. The contributors--all leading scholars and performers--deal with issues of performance practice relating both to playing the music and staging the operas.

Performing the Music of Henry Purcell

Edited by Michael Burden

Table of Contents

Introduction, Nicholas KenyonPerforming the Music 1. Original sets of parts for Restoration Concerted Music at Oxford, Peter Holman2. The English organ in Purcell's lifetime, Dominic Gwynne3. Violin making in England in the age of Purcell, John Dilworth4. Performing Mr Purcell's "Exotick" trumpet notes, Peter Downey5. The first performance of Purcell's Funeral Music for Queen Mary, Bruce Wood6. Ornamentation in the keyboard music of Henry Purcell and his contemporaries, H. Diack Johnstone7. Purcell's stage singers, Olive Baldwin and Thelma Wilson8. Voice ranges, voice types and pitch in Purcell's concerted works, Timothy MorrisStaging the Operas 9. Purcell debauch'd; the dramatick operas in performance,
Michael Burden10. Performance and political allegory: what to interpret and when on the Restoration stage, Andrew Walking11. Dancing and dance music in Purcell's operas, Richard Semmens12. Of Costume and Etiquette: staging in the time of Purcell, Ruth Eva Ronen13. Calling up Genius: Purcell, Roger North and Charlotte Butler, Roger Savage14. Purcell's Dioclesian on the Dorset Garden stage, Julia and Frans Muller15. Trembleurs and Cold People: how should they shiver?, Lionel SawkinsAppendices 1. Original sets of parts of Restoration Concerted Music at Oxford: a preliminary catalogue, Peter Holman2. English viol and violin makers working in London in the period 1650-1700, John Dilworth3. Purcell's stage singers: a documentary list,
Olive Baldwin and Thelma Wilson4. Forces and vocal ranges in Purcell's concerted works, Timothy Morris5. Dances and Purcell's operas 1689-1692 for which music is known, Richard Semmens

Performing the Music of Henry Purcell

Edited by Michael Burden

Reviews and Awards

"Occasionally, a book comes along that is both a pleasure to read and jam-packed with enlightening thoughts, facts, and discourses. Such a book is Michael Burden's collection of 15 essays,
erforming the Music of Henry Purcell. Every chapter is solidly researched and extraordinarily well written."--Early Music Newsletter